12/22/2013

Tremendous story. Incredibly touching and inspiring. Well worth the time.

Tito Momen was raised Muhammad Momen. He was born in Nigeria and taught to observe the strict teachings of Islam. Beginning at age five he woke at 4:45 am every morning to attend the mosque and perform dawn prayer with the other men in his village. He began training to memorize the Quran at age six by copying the entire Quran word for word. He was being raised to become a leader among clerics, capable of leading a jihad, or holy struggle, to convert nonbelievers to Islam.

But Tito s path took an unexpected turn when he was introduced to Christianity. His decision to believe in Jesus Christ cost him his family and his freedom. Tito thought he would spend his remaining days enduring a life sentence in an uncivilized Egyptian prison. For fifteen years he suffered and waited and prayed. Tito says, I never gave up hope. I never stopped believing. Although he was falsely imprisoned, beaten, and ridiculed, Tito s remarkable true story is one of faith, forgiveness, and testimony that God does hear and answer prayers.

12/15/2013

Originally conceived as a personal history for the benefit of his family, Joseph Fielding Smith's biography of his father Joseph F. Smith is an important contribution to the body LDS history and biography. Though not without some bias, Joseph Fielding's portrait of his father is comprehensive and fascinating.

From age seven, when he helped his mother cross the plains, to age fifteen, when he began his four-year mission to Hawaii; from his call to the apostleship to his service as councilor to four Church presidents; from his persecution for plural marriage to his significant contributions to Church doctrine, Joseph F. Smith was a courageous leader who dedicated his life to the Lord.

The Poetical Writings is, as the title suggests, a collection of Whitney's poems, particularly his religious verse. While a good collection, Whitney's most famous poem, The Soul's Captain--a response to William Henley's Invictus ("It matters not how straight the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul")--is not included here, unfortunately.

The Soul's Captain (Orson F. Whitney)

Art thou in truth? Then what of him Who bought thee with his blood? Who plunged into devouring seas And snatched thee from the flood?

Who bore for all our fallen race What none but him could bear– The God who died that man might live, And endless glory share?

Of what avail thy vaunted strength, Apart from his vast might? Pray that his Light may pierce the gloom, That thou mayest see aright.

Men are as bubbles on the wave, As leaves upon the tree. Thou, captain of thy soul, forsooth Who gave that place to thee?

Free will is thine -- free agency To wield for right or wrong; But thou must answer unto him To whom all souls belong

Bend to the dust that head "unbowed," Small part of Life's great whole! And see in him, and him alone, The Captain of thy soul.